Crate.



W. NELSON.

CRATE.

APPLICATION FILBD MAR. 23. 1911.

1,033,724. Patented July 23,1912.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

mwwboz W. Ak /Z5077 APPLICATION FILED MAR.23, 1911.

W NELSON.

CRATE.

Patented July 23, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ammvtoz 92,1, 1% 5%,, @Mh W COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH 110.,WASKINGTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES- OFFICE.

WELEA-M' NELSON, OF NORVOOD, MASSACHUSETTS.

CRATE.

Specification of- Letters Patent;

Patented Ji11y23, 1912.

Application: filed March 23; 1911'. Serial No; 6163-16.

My invention relates to improvements in crates, and has for its leading object the provision of an improved form ofcol l'apsi ble crate for shipping fruit or like commodities which can be folded into compact form to be returned to a point of original shipment for refilling.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an improved collapsible fruit crate in which the various parts are all permanently attached and which is provided wit-h improved means for securing the various parts together in opened position.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, and it will be understood that I may make any modifications in the specific structure shown and described within the scope of my claim and without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my crate in open position. Fig. 2 represents a similar view of the crate in closed position. Fig. 3 represents a cross sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents an enlarged detailed view partly in section of the lock for the bottom of the crate. Fig. 5 represents a fragmentary view of the keeper plate, and Fig. 6 represents a sectional view of the lock for the top of the crate.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the side slats connected by the upper and lower transverse bars 2 having beveled ends 3 to which are hingedly secured the bars 4 of the end sections 5 at one end and having the squared ends 6 at the other end connected by the interior hinges 7 to the bars of the other end member, whereby when the parts are moved into folded position they shift from the shape of a rectangle into that of a parallelogram and are continued in their movement until the side section of each portion of the crate rests against the end section and a portion of the other side of the crate to provide a fiat member.

S'ecured to the rear side of the crate are the upwardly projecting. hinged straps 8 having the links 9 secured to their upper ends and provided. with: the depending portions '10 projecting through the reversely bent portion of the straps 8, while pivotally engaged on: the links or loops 9' are the straps- 11 carried by the top 1 2. Secured to the top'isa member 13 similar to the member 11 and pi-votally attached to: the loop- 14 of theplate 15' which hasthe' slot 16 to receive the keeper 17 having the semi-circular terminali lugs 18 engaging the recessed under side of the keeper plate:19',-the keeper passing through the slot when in upwardly raised position and when swung. downward bearing. against the plate 15 to lock the cover inclosed position where it may be secured by wire passing through the opening 20 of the plate 15 and 21 of the keeper 17.

Secured to the lower bar 2 of the front side by the hinges 22 is the bottom section 23 of my crate adapted to be swung upward against the front when the crate is in closed position and to fit inside of the lower bars of the sides and ends when the crate is in opened position to retain the sides and ends in open position at right angles to each other. To secure the bottom in said closed position, I secure to the lower strip 2 of the rear side of the crate interiorly thereof the plate 24 having the inverted keyhole slots 25 formed therein, the bar 2 having recesses 26 formed in it rearwardly of the key hole slots and faced by the plate 24. Formed in the bottom 23 are a plurality of T slots corresponding in number to the number of key hole slots in the plate, said slots or grooves comprising a transverse groove 27 having extending therefrom near one end the second groove 28 terminating in the rounded recess 29 to facilitate the insertion of a finger under the arms 30 of the locking rods 31 which are slidably retained in the grooves 27 by the staples 32. Said rods have the upset ends providing the bit portions 33 adapted when the arms 30 are in vertical position to pass through the keyhole slots of the plate, the arms being pressed inward until in alinement with the slots 28 when the rods are swung to throw the arms downward into said slots, when the keeper plate and the arms will be flushed with the upper face of the bottom, the contents of the crate resting upon the arms and preventing their unlocking movement: To release the bottom the arms are swung upward and the rods then moved rearwardly in their slots until they disengage the keeper plate.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, the construction of my improved crate will be readily understood and it will be seen that I have provided a readily foldable crate in which the lower section or bottom fits within the side and end sections to hold the same in distended or open position, which action is supplemented by the brace strips secured to the top, and it will be seen that I have provided an improved simple, inexpensive, durable and eflicient locking device for securing the bottom in position which will be positive in its operation but which may be readily released when the crate is empty.

I claim:

A locking device for collapsible crates, comprising a slotted plate carried by one section, a second section having T-shaped grooves formed therein disposed in alinement with the slots of the plate, and rods slidably and rotatably mounted in the slots and having an up-bent operating arm formed at one end and an up-turned end providing a bit at the other, whereby pressure against the operating arm will force the bit through the slot in the keeper plate, and the rocking of the rod by depression of its arm will move said arm to lie in the stem of the T-shaped groove or recess and in alinement with the face of the section, while the bit engages the keeper plate and secures the sections together, said arms being re tained'in their grooves to hold the bit in engagement with the slots of the plate by weight of the material contained in the crate.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

WELEAM NELSON.

'Witnesses JOHN F. KILEY, HAROLD F. KILEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

